Home > Cricket > So wrong to snub Dravid and Ganguly for India's big ODI challenge

So wrong to snub Dravid and Ganguly for India's big ODI challenge

The two cricket veterans are needed for their experience and solidity. Throwing youngsters into the team in such a difficult tournament is too much of a risk.

by Umar Pirzada on 09 February 2008

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Rahul Dravid: Should have been in ODI squad (gettyimages.com)

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It's really strange how decisions like leaving Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly out of India's ODI series are made.

The theory was to let the young breed step in since Dravid and Ganguly are going to retire. But surely there must be a way to bring in youngsters without compromising two greats at the twilight of their careers?

Ganguly has worked hard to gain his place in the team and Dravid would be automatic in any side of the world. He even kept wicket when he was not getting a place in the side just to be in the team. That's commitment.

'Playing Ganguly and Dravid would have made the youngsters compete for the remaining places'

The Indians suffered a demoralising defeat in the Test series and need to pull up their socks in the ODIs against Australia and Sri Lanka. And how do they prepare for it? They remove two greats from the team to make way for youngsters.

I think this was a foolish move by the Indian selectors. The players' presence makes all the difference and given that this was their last tour Down Under, I think they deserved a little more respect. They could have played them at their normal positions thus creating come competition for the youngsters to fight for the remaining places.

There has not been a competitive ODI series since the World Cup and it would have been much more interesting getting all the teams at full strength. I think Dravid and Ganguly will be missed big time.

I wish the youngsters well - they have a chance to prove themselves and should make the most of their opportuinities.

Were the BCCI right to leave out Dravid and Ganguly? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.

Comments (5)

by JFGJ on February 09, 2008

YES, THEY SHOULD

by n.n on February 09, 2008

They should have left out dravid, but not ganguly or Laxman.

by Partha Rajagopal on February 09, 2008

Dravid, in his current form would be one wicket less. Ganguly needs to learn skating to run between wickets. And he is a lousy fielder. Today's one day cricket demands excellent fielding and running between wkts. Australia and India showed that against Sri Lanka by scoring most runs in terms of singles. They have done the right thing by relying on youth and building for the future. Just be patient and it will mature with time.

by Brad on February 11, 2008

After beating aussie pretty easy last night you would say the selectors are spot on.

by A Cricket Fan on February 17, 2008

I really doubt how much the policy of building a team towards WC 2011 is working. It was said by MS Dhoni that he wants 14 players with decent experience ready for 2011. Looking at the lineup for past 4 matches it seems he wants just 11. I believe a much stronger team could be built while practicing rotation to good effect. A better option would have been to have both Ganguly & Dravid in the squad and playing at least one of them in the matches and also rotating the young players. By the look of it, it seems that players like Karthick, Raina & Chawla are just extra luggage. Two seniors were axed because of them 'lacking' in fielding, while another 'young' fielding champ is being persisted with despite repeated batting failures. Seems like Dhoni has forgot that a team needs to score runs and take wickets to win a match only electric fielding does no help. If nothing else then at least the two stalwarts of the game should have been given a slightly better chance to announce their retirements rather than so unceremoniously being dropped from the team.